Balance weight positioner



1950 F. A. GRUETJEN 2,532,225

BALANCE WEIGHT POSITIONER Filed March a, 1945 r 2 Sheet-Sheet 1 Frederick Afirzzezfjen INVENTOR.

A TTORNEY Nov, 28, 1950 F. A. GRUETJEN 2,532,225

BALANCE WEIGHT POSITIONER Filed March 3, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 Z9 FredezfickAGrzzezjen 5 320 330 j INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 28. 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BALANCE WEIGHT POSITIONER Frederick A. Gruetjen, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to A. O. Smith Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of New York Application March 3, 1945, Serial No. 580,893

11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a balance weight positioner and more particularly to a positioner fixture that may be employed to mark balance weights for location in proper relative position in a propeller blad and the like to effect vertical balance thereof.

The positioner finds particular employment in conjunction with the calculator device described and claimed in a co-pending application filed by the same inventor on March 3, 1945, entitled Balance Weight Calculator, Serial No. 580,892. The latter device calculates the angular positions in which the balance weights must be placed to obtain the balance desired. The balance weight positioner of the present invention locates the Weights in the determined angular position for marking on a line that corresponds to an index line through the apex of the trailing edge of the blade.

One object of the present invention is to provide a quick operating and accurate device for positioning balance weights and marking the same.

Another object is to provide a balance weight positioner that is readily portable from place to place.

A further object is to provide a balanc weight positioner that may be employed withthe calculator device described in the heretofore mentioned application of the same inventor and which calculates the angular positions at which the balance weight positioner of the invention is to locate the weights.

These and other objects of the invention appear hereinafter in connection with the description of an embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing,

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a balance weight positioner with balance weights shown by dotted lines taken on line II of Fig. 3;

Fig. 2 is a similar view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the positioner; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 with parts broken away.

The balance weight positioner of the invention comprises in genera] a substantially circular base plate I separated from a substantially circular top plate 2 by a plurality of spacer pins 3 disposed between the outer circumference of the plates. Shoulders 4 on each end portion of pins 3 abut against the inside of the plates I and 2 to maintain them at a fixed distance from each other.

Top plate 2 is cut away on one side thereof tools facilitate use of the positioner as will be more fully described hereafter.

A stud 5 is secured within the center of base plate I and projects upwardly therefrom a substantial distance to receive the washer 6 and the collar I, with washer t interposed between the base plate and collar.

Collar I is disposed for rotation around stud 5 and may have a knurled outer edge 8 to facilitate manipulation thereof. A disc 9 is secured by screws to a lower circumferential shoulder portion of collar l and projects outwardly a slight distance from knurled edge 8 for convenient reading of the markings on the disc, which is calibrated in a counterclockwise direction in one degree increments from zero to 360. Disc 9 is revolved by rotating collar I around stud 5.

The inner sleeve It] is suitably secured onto the upper end portion of collar I and is revolved by collar I in the same manner as disc 9. Sleeve ID extends upwardly from collar I to a line slightly removed from top plate 2 and is provided with a slot II extending longitudinally of the wall thereof to receive the projection I2 of one of the balance weights I3. Sinc the balance Weights I3 form no, part of this invention they are merely illustrated in dotted lines in the drawing.

In assembling the disc 9 and sleeve I 0 with the collar 1, for convenience purposes only, as illustrated in the drawing, these parts are secured together in such a manner that the center line of slot II of the sleeve is I28 degrees to the right from the zero calibration of disc 2. This: enables the disc to be read and the weights to be marked at different places on the fixture of the invention.

Inner sleeve It] is separated from an outer sleeve I4 by bushing It, the sleeve It being disposed for rotation around bushing I5. Sleeves M and II] are rotatable relative to each other and sleeve I l similarly to sleeve It is provided with slot It to receive the projection II of the other balance weight I3.

A disc I8 is suitably secured to the lower end shoulder portion of sleeve I4 and the outwardly turned flanged IQ provided at the lower end of bushing I5 separates the disc from collar 7 to permit relative rotation therebetween.

Disc It extends outwardly on a circumferential line slightly inwardly removed from the outer circumference of collar 1 so that collar l can be manipulated by the operator without effecting rotation of disc I8. As is the case with disc 9, disc I8 is calibrated in a counterclockwise direction in one degree increments from zero to 360 degrees.

purpose of convenient reading of the disc the center line of slot it in sleeve id is located at 129 degrees to the right from the zero mark on disc 18. The rotation of sleeve i l by flange 23 effects rotation of disc It and the balance weight l3 carried by the sleeve.

'Iop plate 2 has a center opening 2i slightly less diameter than that of outer sleeve iii to permit insertion and removal of balance weights !3 from the slots in sleeves it and i l. The shoulder 22 around opening 2! provides a ledge to support the outer balance weight it which in turn supports the inner balance weight 13 by shoulder, 23. The balance weights are rotated around center opening 21 and supporting shoulder 22 by movement of the sleeves l9 and i since the projections l2 and ill of the weights are. disposed in slots H and i respectively of the sleeves.

A marking bar 2G is disposed within bracket 25 suitably secured to the top of plate 2. Bar 24 extends over central openingfli a suii'icient distance to effect marking of the balance weights l3 after they have been rotated to the determined angular position. Bar 2d is pivoted in bracket 25 by pin 25 so that it can be moved downwardly to serve as a guide in marking the wei hts with any suitable marking instrument and upwardly to permit removal of the weights from the fixture.

Marking bar-2 i has its marking edge 2'5 positioned radially at the 120 position of the dials at normal reading. In the illustration of the invention the operator marks the weights it on the left side of the marking bar 2 looking from the right in Fig. 3. The index line marked on the balance weights corresponds to a line through the apex of the trailing edge of the blade that is to be balanced.

, .A pointer bracket member 28 is suitably secured to the top of base plate i with its two pointers at a radial line of 0 normal setting and 120 degrees to the left of marking bar 24. A generally large pointer 29 of the bracket designates the calibrations on disc is and a smaller pointer 31! is disposed within pointer 29 and designates the calibrations on disc 9. g

As is the case with the zero markings on the discs and they center line of slots i i and it of sleeves It and M, previously described, the manner of locating bracket 28 with its pointer members 29 and 39, to the left of marking bar 25, 120 degrees, eifects convenient reading of the calibrations on discs 9 and i8. Manipulation and reading of the dials is facilitated by cutting away top plate 2 above bracket 2% as previously described. Ordinarily the marking bar would be located directly over the bracket 28 but this would increase the difficulties of reading the calibrations on the discs.

Fig. 3 illustrates the positioner in normal position with the pointer members 29 and 3E! designating the zero marks on discs l8 and i9, respectively.

To illustrate the use of the positioner of the invention reference may be had to Fig. 4 of the drawings. Assume that it has been found as shown by Figure 1 of the Balance Weight Calculator of the present inventor previously referred to herein that to correct a determined unbal- 4 ance, the inner balance weight l3 must be placed at about an angle of 299 degrees and the outer balance weight l3 must be placed at an angle of about 18 degrees from a given index point, reading in a counterclockwise direction.

The balance weights l3 are placed in the positioner with projection I2 of the inner weight disposed in slot H of sleeve Ill and the projection I! of the outer weight disposed in slot I6 of sleeve M. By means of collar I, disc 9 and sleeve in are rotated so that pointer 30 as shown in Fig. 4 indicates the 299 degree calibration on disc 9. Disc I8 and sleeve M are in turn rotated by means of flange 20 until the 18 degree calibration on disc 1:8 is at pointer 29 as illustrated in Fig. 4. The rotation of the discs to the determined degree markings locates balance weights l3 in the angular positions they should obtain to correct the, determined unbalance of the blades within whichthey are to beinserted. V I H i After positioning the weights in the manner described the weights are marked by any suitable [marking instrument with portion Z'I of marking bar 24 serving as a guide and the mark impressed on the weights corresponds to an index line through the apex of the trailing edge of the blade. This line also corresponds to the zero degree line of the calculator device. of the; present inventor heretofore referred to. 'Ifhe weights are secured within the propeller blade with the index line of the Weights falling on an index line through the apex of the trailing edge of the blade. If desired the weights may be soldered or otherwise secured together while in the fixture so that they can be assembled as a unit in the blade. v

The positioner fixture of the invention provides a quick, accurate method for locating balance weights in the correct angular positions to correct determined vertical unbalance in a propeller blade or other rotary body after the angular positions have been calculated.

Various embodiments of the invention'ma'y be employed within the scope of the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A balance weight positioner for indexing balance weights to be placed in a rotary object'for efiecting vertical balance thereof where unbalance has been determined, comprising relative rotative members to receive separate balance weights and rotate the same relative to e'ach'otheigmeans on said members to confine the weights and effect positive rotation of the weightsby'said members, calibrated means rotated by said rotative members to determine the positioning of the weights in proper angular relation to correct the determined unbalance and means for indexing the weights in said angular position.

2. A balance weight positioner for indexing balance weights to be placed in a rotary sweet for effecting vertical balance thereof whereunbalance has been determined, comprisingdblatively rotative members to receive the corresponding balance weights to rotate the same, calibrated means rotated by said rotative members to defined positions to indicate when the weights are in the proper angular position to correct the determined unbalance, and a guide member to serve as an index for marking the weights when the same are located in the defined angular position necessary to correct determined unbalance. y w

3. A balance weight positioner for indexing balance weights tobe'placed in a rotary object for effecting vertical balance thereof where unbalance has been determined, comprising means to hold and relatively ro tate'said weights, calibrated discs relatively rotated by said means to defined calibrations for disposing the weights in the proper angular position to correct the determined unbalance, and a guide member to serve as an index for marking the weights when the same are located in the defined angular position.

l. A balance weight positioner for indexing. balance weights to be secured in a propeller blade for efiecting vertical balance thereof where unbalance has been determined, comprising an inner sleeve disposed for rotation and having a longitudinal slot therein to receive an eccentric balance weight to rotate the same, and an outer sleeve disposed for rotation and having a longitudinal slot therein to receive another eccentric balance weight to rotate the same, said sleeves having indexing marks to indicate the angular positions the weights are to be rotated to by their respective sleeves to correct the determined unbalance.

5. A balance weight positioner for indexing balance weights to be secured in a propeller blade for efiecting vertical balance thereof where unbalance has been determined, comprising an inner sleeve disposed for rotation and provided to receive an eccentric balance weight to rotate the same, an outer sleeve disposed for rotation and provided to receive another eccentric balance weight to rotate the same, said sleeves having indexing marks to indicate the angular positions the weights are to be rotated to by their respective sleeves to correct the determined unbalance, and a guide member to serve as an index for marking the weights when the same are located in the defined angular position.

6. A balance weight positioner for indexing balance weights to be secured in a propeller blade for efiecting vertical balance thereof Where unbalance has been determined, comprising an inner sleeve disposed for rotation and provided to receive a balance weight to rotate the same, an outer sleeve disposed for rotation and provided to receive another balance weight to rotate the same, a separate disc secured to each sleeve and rotated thereby, the discs being calibrated to index the defined angular positions the weights are to be placed to correct the determined unbalance, and a guide member to serve as an index for marking the weights when the same have been located in the defined angular position.

'7. A balance weight positioner for indexing balance weights to be secured in a propeller blade for effecting vertical balance thereof where unbalance has been determined, comprising inher and outer sleeves disposed for relative rotation and having longitudinal slots to receive balance weights to rotate the same, calibrated discs secured to the lower end portions of each of said sleeves with the calibrations on said discs being in increments of one degree from zero to 360, and means on said sleeves to rotate the sleeves and discs to a defined calibration on each disc to angularly position the weights and index the same for disposal within the blade to correct the determined unbalance.

8. A balance weight positioner for locating and indexing balance weights in a determined angular position, comprising a base plate and a top plate spaced apart a fixed distance, a cylinder 6, secured to the center of the base plate and extending upwardly therefrom, a collar disposed for rotation round said cylinder, an inner sleeve secured to the upper end portion of the collar and disposed to receive one of the balance weights, a disc secured to the lower end portion of the collar and calibrated with degree marks to indicate the determined angular position of said balance weight, an outer sleeve to receive another balance weight and disposed to rotate relative to the inner sleeve, a disc secured to the lower end portion of the outer sleeve and calibrated with degree markings to indicate the determined angular position of said second balance weight, and a marking bar provided on the top plate of the positioner to serve as a guide for marking the weights for location in a propeller blade after they have been rotated to the determined angular positions defined by said discs.

9. A balance weight positioner for locating and indexing balance weights in a determined angular position, comprising a base plate and a top plate with the latter cut away on one side and having an opening in the central portion thereof, a cylinder secured to the center of the base plate and extending upwardly therefrom, a collar disposed for rotation around said cylinder, an inner sleeve secured to the upper end portion of the collar and having a longitudinal slot therein to receive one of the balance weights, a disc secured to the lower end portion of the collar and calibrated with degree markings to indicate the determined angular position of said balance weight, an outer sleeve having a longitudinal slot therein to receive another of the balance weights and disposed to rotate relative to the inner sleeve, a disc secured to the lower end portion of the outer sleeve and calibrated with degree markings to indicate the determined angular position of said second balance weight, and a marking bar provided on the top plate of the positioner to serve as a guide for marking the weights for location in a propeller blade after they have been rotated to the determined angular positions defined by said discs,

10. A balance weight positioner for indexing balance weights to be secured in a propeller blade for efiecting vertical balance thereof where unbalance has been determined, comprising an inner sleeve disposed for rotation and having a longitudinal slot therein to receive a balance weight, an outer sleeve disposed for rotation and provided with a longitudinal slot to receive another of the balance weights, and discs secured to each sleeve and rotated thereby with the discs calibrated from zero to 360 degrees to provide an index for locating the defined angular positions the weights are to be placed to correct the determined unbalance, the said discs being secured to said sleeves in such a manner that the zero marks on the discs are displaced from the center line of the longitudinal slots of the sleeves to facilitate reading of the discs.

11. A balance Weight positioner for positioning and indexing balance weights to efiect vertical balance of a propeller blade where unbalance has been determined, comprising plate members spaced apart a fixed distance, inner and outer sleeves provided between the plate members and with each sleeve having a slot to receive a balance weight and rotate the same, a disc secured to each sleeve to be rotated thereby and calibrated with degree markings from zero to 360, the zero marking on each disc being removed from a line through the center of 7 the slot in the sleeve to which the respective REFERENCES CITED disc is secured, an index indicating bracket se- The following references of record in the cured to one of the plate members and having f} of thi pointers disposed to designate the degree marks e s paten on each of said discs, and an index marking UNITED STATES PATENTS bracket secured to the other plate member, the Number Name Date said brackets being secured to the plate mem- 692 060 McCormick Jan 28 1902 here the same number of degrees apart as the 757335 Mccroskey 1904 distance between the zero mark on each disc and ljzljuq Miner 1924 a line through the center of the respective sleeve 10 to which the disc is secured.

FREDERICK A. GRUETJEN. 

